Helene’s impact on Bay County isn’t expected to be as severe as our neighbors to the east. But Bay County Emergency Management officials are making the necessary preparation plans. They’re also asking residents to do their parts as well.

Emergency management already thought ahead and declared Nassau County under a local state of emergency on Monday. Gov. Ron DeSantis followed up with a declaration for the state Tuesday. You can find information about shelters, evacuations, where to find sandbags and even how to sign up for push alerts and report damage at OneNassau.com.

GEMA Director Chris Stallings announced Tuesday that Gov. Brian Kemp issued a state of emergency. WSB Meteorologist Christina Edwards says Tropical Storm Helene formed in the western Caribbean on Tuesday morning. Helene officially strengthened into a named tropical storm with winds as high as 45 miles per hour.

A state of emergency has been declared in Florida where evacuations are underway along the Gulf Coast as Tropical Storm Helene is expected to become a major hurricane before it makes landfall. Residents in the storm's potential path have been told to prepare for up to a week without electricity.

Evacuations are underway and at least 61 Florida counties are in a state of emergency due to the potential impacts from future Hurricane Helene.